Safety razor



Sept. 26, 1933. M 5311 1,928,364

SAFETY RAZOR Filed May 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. jVz'c/wlaw Twirl ATTORNEY.

Sept. 26, 1933. s-n 1,928,364

SAFETY RAZOR Filed May 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1933 SAFETY RAZOR- Nicholas- Testi, New York, N. Y., assignor to I Gillette Safety Razor Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application May 7, 1932. Serial No. 609,784

22 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type in which a thin, flexible blade is shaped between co-operating blade-shaping, and bladesupporting members and maintained by them in a position of transverse curvature for shaving.

The invention comprises a novel razor construction in which the position and relation of these members may be controlled more conveniently by the user and their movement toward and from m blade-clamping position effectedmore rapidly than in razors of this type heretofore known. In one aspect, my invention consists in improvements upon the construction disclosed in the co-pending application of Joseph Muros, Serial No. 587,551, filed January 19, 1932. In another aspect, the invention comprises improvements having general application to and utility in safety razors of other types.

' In embodying my invention in a safety razor 2 having co-operating blade-shaping members,

either of the two membersv may be made sectional and such sections pivoted to the 'outer edges of the other, so that they may be swung toward and from a superposed, blade-shaping position. An important feature of the present invention consists in operating mechanism for these sections which includes a spiral cam element in combination with an .actuating element arranged-to move longitudinally of the latter. As herein shown, the spiral cam element takes the form of a cam slot concentric with the axis of each pivotally-mounted member and in such case the actuating member may be an arm which enters the spiral slot and which may be moved along the slot by the turning of a handle member or otherwise. The resulting operating connection may be advantageously designed to impart a rapid swinging movementto the bladeshaping sections in either direction toward or from blade-shaping position so that, in the one case, the razor may be rapidly and fully opened for the removal and replacement of blades, and,

in the other, it may be rapidly closed to position the larger part of their travel and more rugged mechanism, effective through a shorter range of movement, may be utilized for effecting the clamping movement or locking of the sections which alone require appreciable pressure in the parts.

In a safety razor of the type above discussed, it is important to time the action of the swinging mechanism and the locking mechanism so that they shall be 'efiective in the proper sequence, without lost time, and without requiring particular attention of the user. Accordingly, ano'ther'feature of the invention consists in a single operating device, such as a handle member, arranged to control two trains of mechanism, one for rapidly swinging the sectional blade shaping members'and the other for operating the locking mechanism to securely hold the bladeshaping sections in operative position when the razor is in use and to unlockand release said sections when the .user desires to open his razor to remove or replace a blade. v

The razor of my invention includes a handle of novel construction in which both trains of mechanism and an operating device therefor are incorporated. As herein shown, one part of the, handle is arranged for rotation with respect to the head in which the sectional blade-shaping members are mounted and is provided with operating connections which include the spiral cam slots already referred to. The handle also includes a longitudinally movable spindle which is arranged to actuate the locking mechanism and a single operating device, such as a sleeve or thimble, is provided by which both trains of mechanism are operated in the proper timed relation.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

' Fig. 1 is a view of the razor in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on the angular planes indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the razor in closed position;

Fig. 4' is a view in transverse section of the razor in open position on the angular planes indicated in Fig. 5;-

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the razor in open I position;

' rel portion 16 of the cap sections.

supporting and handle parts in disassembled relation; v

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of one of the cap sections;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation showing the razor with the cap sections unlocked but not fully opened, and I Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, showing a modified structure.

The blade-supporting member 10 comprises an elongated plate having-parallel, longitudinallyextending shoulders or edges over which the blade may be flexed, and blade-locating studs 12 herein shown as being diamond-shaped. The bladesupporting member is provided with a centrallydisposed hole for connection with the handle and at each corner it is provided with a downwardly and outwardly-extending bearing arm 14.

The cap of the razor is formed of two co-operating cap sections 15, each comprising acurved wing portion shaped to overlie the blade-supporting member 10 andto co-operate therewith in positioning 'and clamping the blade in shaving position. Each cap section includes also an elongated barrel or hub portion 16 formed integrally or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. The cap sections 15 are mounted respectively at the outer edges of the blade-supporting member 10 by pivot studs 28 which extend through the bearing arms 14 and enter the ends of the bar- I portions are hollow and each is provided with a member 10 is entirely unobstructed so that pres.-

entation or removal of the blade is facilitated.

Rigidly secured to the blade-supporting member 10 is a tubular handle member 21. This is provided at its upper end with a shoulder and a reduced portion which fit snugly in the hole 13 of the blade-supporting member and may be headed. therein to form a rigid connection. At its'lower end,'the tube 21 is provided with an enlarged head 22 through which extend longitudinal radial slots imparting a yielding and resilient character to this portion of the tube.

Surrounding the handle tube 21 is a tubular barrel 24 which is journaled at its lower end upon the head 22 of the handle tube 21 and at its upper end upon the body of the tube itself. At its upper end, the barrel 24 is flanged and provided with oppositely-extending arms 27 which are shaped to enter the spiral cam slots 1? of the barrels 16 of the cap sections. The arms 27 constitute the operating connection between the barrel 24 and the cap sections 15 which are mounted upon the blade-supporting member 10. When one of these members is turned relatively to the other, the arms 2'7 "are moved in a fixed path longitudinally of the cam slots 17 with the result that the capsections are swung rapidly about their pivotal axis. Themovement of the cap sections is particularly rapid on account of the steep pitch of the cam slots 17 and the fact that the operating arms 27 move longitudinally along the cam slots. Operating movement of the arms 27 in the cam slots- 1'7 may be caused by holding the head of the razor and turning the The barrel handle barrel 24, or by holding the handle barrel 24 and turning the head of the razor. The structure herein shown makes the latter mode of operation more convenient, as will presently appear.

Within the handle tube 21 is mounted a spindle 30 arranged to extend at its upper end through the hole in the cap sections formed by the recesses 20 and provided with a locking head 31. Below its upper end, the spindle is provided with a collar 32 having a sliding fit within the handle tube 21, and at its lower end, it is securely riveted to a thimble -or sleeve 25. The thimble 25 engages frictionally with the surface of the flexible and resilient head 22 of the handle tube 21. The thimble 25 acts to confine the expansive tendency of the head 22 so that a substantially uniform, frictional engagement is maintained between the two at all times, regardless of wear. The thimble 25 is provided with a short, spiral cam slot 26 into which projects a cam pin comprising a screw 23 which is threaded radially into the head 22. It will be apparent that rotation of the thimble 25, byreason of its cam connection with the head 22, produces a longitudinal movement in the spindle 30 and raises or lowers the locking head 31. i

The length of the cam slot 26 and its location are predetermined with respect to the operating arms 27 of the handle barrel 24, so that the swinging movement'of the cap sections 15 shall be properly timed with respect to the locking and unlocking actions of the head 31. In opening the razor, movement of the thimble 25, suificient to carry the cam slot 26 from one end to the other upon the pin 23 and to lift the spindle 30 into the 'position shown in Fig. 9, occurs before there is any relative movement of the operating arms 27 in the spiral slots 1'7 of the cap sections.

A blade 35, suitable for use in the illustrated razor, is shown in Fig. 5. This is provided with a longitudinally-extending slot having enlargements shaped to fit upon the diamond-shaped, blade-locating studs 12 and with sharpened edges. The blade is thus accurately positioned upon the blade-supporting member 10 with its edges extending beyond the blade-flexing shoulders 11 thereof and in registration with the opening 19 of the cap sections. a

The razor herein illustrated may be operated in the following manner:

Assuming that it is in the open position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the blade 35 is positioned upon the blade-supporting member 10, as already explained, the thimble 25 may now be turned in a clock-wise direction by the right hand of the user while the handle barrel 24 is held stationary in his left'hand. The thimble 25, by reason of its frictional connection with the handle tube 21, thereupon swings the tube 21 within the barrel 24 and the head of the razor is turned with respect to the operating arms 27 on the barrel 24, with the result that they travel along the spiral slots 1'7 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in'ljig. 3. In this movement, the cap sections 15 are swung rapidly inwardly from the position shown in Figs. 4 and '5 to that shown in Fig. 9, or slightly beyond turn with respect to the handle barrel 24. Therefore, the thimble 25 begins to turn frictionally upon the head 22 and the cam slot 26 travels along the pin 23 toward the position shown in Figs. 6, and 9, wherein the upper end of the cam.

by the cam slot 26 and its connection with the locking spindle 30. Adequate clamping pressure is thus imparted to the cap sections entirely independently of the operating connection which includes the spiral cam slot 17. The locking spin- .dle -30 and its connections are thus relied upon for effecting the heavy, clamping pressure upon the blade at a relatively slow rate of movement,

whereas, the operating connections which include the spiral slot 17, are called .upon only to effect the light, quick movement of the cap sections to and from operative position. The

degree of clamping pressure and consequently the edge exposure of the blade may be controlled by tightening or looseningthe thimble 25.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated a modification of the razor shown in Figs. 1 to 9. In this modified construction, the blade-supporting member 10 and the cap sections 15 are of the same construction as the corresponding parts already described. The handle tube 51, however, is provided at its upper end with an internal thread 52 which cooperates with a threaded collar 42 upon a locking spindle 40, having a locking head 41-. Longitudinal movement of the locking spindle 40 is derived from its screw-threaded connection with thehandle tube51, but otherwise the construction and operation of the razor illustrated in Fig. 10 is similar to the razor alreadyxdescribed and it possesses the same advantage of having claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- ent of the United'States is:-

1. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member, cap sections pivotally mounted on both longitudinal edges thereof and provided with one element of an operating train which includes a spiral cam,-and a rotatable handle member which supplies the co-operating element in said train.

2. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting membencap sections connected thereto at both sides .and each having a portion with a spiral slot therein, anda rotatable memberhaving operating connections movable longitudinally of said spiral slots in both cap sections for swinging the same toward and from the blade-supporting member.

3. A safety razor comprising a blade-support: ing member,.a cap member pivotally mounted thereon and having a spiral cam slot therein, and a rotatable device having an operating connection with the cap member including an arm fast to said rotatable device and movable in a plane parallel to the axis of said spiral slot.

4. Asafety razor having a handle, and a head thereon including cap sections mounted to swing about axes located in a plane perpendicular to the handle and each having a spiral cam slot therein, said handle including a rotatable member with operating connections movable simuljacent to the free edges of said sections for holdtaneously in opposite directions along said cam slots.

5. A safety razor having a handle, and a head thereon including co-operating cap sections mounted to swing about parallel spaced axes and each having a spiral cam slot therein concentric with itsaxis, said handle including a rotatable member with oppositely-extending arms movable simultaneously along said cam slots.

6. A safety razor having a blade-supporting member, co-operating cap sections separately mounted thereon to swing toward and from bladeclamping position, means for rapidly moving the sections simultaneously in the manner described, and separate means for locking said sections in blade-clamping position.

7. A safety razor having a blade-supporting member, co-operating cap sections separately mounted thereon for swinging movement, an operating device and separate trains of mechanism connected thereto for first rapidly swinging and then slowly moving the sections into clamping position.

8. A safety razorhaving a blade-supporting member, co-operating cap sections separately pivoted thereon, means for rapidly swinging said sections toward each other, means for slowly moving them into clamping position, and a single device for operating said means successively in the proper timed relation.

9. A safety razor having co-operating members shaped to maintain a flexible blade in a position of transverse curvature, one of said members comprising separate sections pivotally mounted respectively upon the outer edges of the other, v

means acting adjacent to the axes of said sections for.swingingthem rapidly toward and from blade-shaping position, and means acting ading them in said position. 11d

-10. A safety razor comprising blade-shaping and supporting members, two of which arenarrow and pivotally mounted respectively at the outer edges of the third, means acting adjacent to the axes of said narrow members for rapidly swingingthem toward blade-shaping position, and means movable between the free edges of said members for holding them in said position.

11. A safety razor comprising a blade-support- -ing member, curved cap sections pivotally mounted respectively at the outer edges thereof and each having a spiral slot concentric with its axis, a handle member having arms extending into said slots, anda spindle longitudinally movable within said handle and having a locking head arranged to engage and hold said sections in shaving position.

12. A safety razorcomprisin'g a blade-supporting member, curved cap sections having openings for the sharpened edges of a blade supported upon said member and being respectively pivoted at the outer edges of said member, a handle including a tube, a barrel journaled thereon and having operative connections with both cap sections for swinging the same, a thimble rotatable upon said tube, and locking mechanism for said secto the barrel and movement of the spindle in the proper timed relation to lock said sections after they have been moved to blade-shaping position.

14. A safety razor including a blade-shaping cap member mounted to swing about a fixed axis to and from blade-engaging position, means for rapidly swinging the cap, means for locking the cap, and a single operating device for both said means arranged to actuate one until its action is opposed with a predetermined degree of pressure and then to actuate the other.

15. A safety razor having a swinging bladeshaping cap an operating device, a train of mechanism actuated thereby to swing said cap to flex a'blade with a slight degree of pressure, and a second train of mechanism automatically brought into action thereafter to further fiex the lade with a greater degree of pressure.

16. A safety razor having co-operating bladeshaping members, a handle member having an expansible section therein, a rotary thimble frictionally mounted concentrically upon said section, and an operating train of mechanism for teeth and having cooperating cap sections mounted to swing about longitudinal axes adjacent thereto toward and from said supporting member, a flexible blade upon the supporting member, means actingsimultaneously upon the cap sections adjacent to their respective axes for moving them toward the blade, and other means acting upon said sections at points remote from their axes for moving them in a blade-flexing path.

19. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member, cap sections pivotally mounted at both longitudinal edges thereof and provided with one element of a quick-swinging and slowlocking mechanism, and a rotatable handle member which supplies the co-operating element of said mechanism.

20. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member, co-operating cap sections pivotally mounted at its opposite edges and arranged to swing to and from a superposed blade-flexing position, a rotatable handle element and a train of mechanism between said element and both cap sections arranged to swing them simultaneously first rapidly to engage the blade and then slowly to flex the blade in the continuous rotation of said handle element.

21. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member, a cap section having a longitudinally-disposed barrel pivotally mounted at each side of said blade-supporting member, each barrel having-a cam slot therein having a steep portion which is directed, in the two barrels respectively, toward an opposite end of the razor, and an operating head having oppositely moving connections with saidcam slots.

22. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member, pivotally. mounted cap sections thereon, and a rotatable handle member having cam connections for swinging said sections, said connections being constructed to move the sections rapidly through a wide arc toward bladeflexing position and then. to move them slowly through a short path for flexing the blade.

NICHOLAS TESTI. 

